Placeholder Content Image

Stephen Fry rushed to hospital

<p>Beloved British icon and actor Stephen Fry, aged 66, found himself in a hospital bed following a dramatic tumble off the stage at London's O2 Arena. The incident occurred right after he had delivered a talk about artificial intelligence (AI) at the CogX Festival.</p> <p>Reports indicate that Fry plummeted an alarming six feet to the ground, resulting in injuries to his leg and ribs. A spokesperson for the conference issued a statement expressing their concern and support for Fry, explaining that the unfortunate accident transpired after his inspiring discourse on the influence of AI. They emphasised their collective thoughts and well-wishes for his speedy recovery. They also mentioned that they had initiated their own investigation but were unable to disclose further details at the moment.</p> <p>Prior to his fall, Fry had engaged the audience with thought-provoking ideas, saying, "We have to choose whether we want to be Prometheus or Zeus." He humorously added, "The one thing we can agree on is that it's a f--king weird time to be alive."</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thanks to everyone who joined us at CogX Festival’s 7th AI &amp; Transformational tech event at London’s iconic O2 arena.</p> <p>Watch our quick Day 3 recap and visit our website to be the first to hear about our plans to make it even bigger and better next year!<a href="https://t.co/K1fBIE0R0G">https://t.co/K1fBIE0R0G</a> <a href="https://t.co/IqRwpRwwiZ">pic.twitter.com/IqRwpRwwiZ</a></p> <p>— CogX Festival (@CogX_Festival) <a href="https://twitter.com/CogX_Festival/status/1704538018369954103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 20, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>In another intriguing revelation, Fry discussed an incident where a historical documentary utilised an AI-generated replication of his voice without his consent. He clarified to his fans that he had not uttered a single word in the narration; instead, a machine had performed the task.</p> <p>He expressed astonishment at the technology's capabilities, noting that it could potentially manipulate his voice to convey any message, from a call to storm Parliament to explicit content, all unbeknownst to him and without his authorisation. "And this, what you just heard," he said, "was done without my knowledge."</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Caring

Placeholder Content Image

Bob Hawke’s widow cops loss on luxury apartment

<p dir="ltr">Blanche d’Alpuget, the widow of former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke, has offloaded her luxury apartment in the heart of Sydney’s CBD after offering a sizable discount.</p> <p dir="ltr">With an initial price guide of $4.3-4.5 million ($NZ 4.7-4.9 million) in July, the guide was reportedly adjusted to $4.2 million ($NZ 4.6 million) in September before eventually selling for an unconfirmed $3.73 million ($NZ 4.09 million), per <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/bob-hawkes-widow-blanche-dalpuget-sells-372m-luxury-pad-in-the-one30-hyde-park-sydney/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>realestate.com.au</em></a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">D’Alpuget’s two-bedroom apartment in the One30 Hyde Park tower was sold after she switched listing agents from Ray White to <a href="https://boutiquepropertyagents.com/property/1403-130-elizabeth-street-sydney-nsw-2000/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boutique Property Agents</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The author and journalist moved in after she and Hawke settled on it in March 2019 and sold their waterfront property in Northbridge.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 131-square-metre apartment was originally three bedrooms before being reconfigured, and boasts views of Hyde Park and Sydney Harbour.</p> <p dir="ltr">After the apartment’s sale, d’Alpuget will be moving to the apartment tower next door, having spent $4.6 million on another apartment.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-99872eb3-7fff-9de9-27b3-848aa242d694"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty Images / Boutique Property Agents</em></p>

Real Estate

Placeholder Content Image

Aussie speedster Steven Bradbury sells luxe apartment

<p dir="ltr">Aussie Olympian Steven Bradbury has sold his beachside investment apartment in Queensland after holding onto it for over a decade.</p> <p dir="ltr">The gold medallist skater listed the four-bedroom ground-floor apartment in the coastal suburb of Kings Beach in Caloundra earlier this year and has gone on to offload the flat for an undisclosed price.</p> <p dir="ltr">After 11 years of owning the apartment, Bradbury initially <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/unit-2-kings-palazzo-4-6-orvieto-terrace-kings-beach-qld-4551-2017750581" target="_blank" rel="noopener">listed</a> the home for $2 million in May before agents Danelle Wiseman and Jonathan Pattinson of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate revised the price to $1.8 million, per <em><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/steven-bradbury-times-his-run-perfectly-with-kings-beach-pad-20220517-p5am5r.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sydney Morning Herald</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Even with the reduction, Bradbury’s potential earnings were more than double the amount his investment company, Pricefinder, paid in 2011.</p> <p dir="ltr">Prior to its sale on August 16, the home was maintained as a weekender and rental with an asking price of $660 a week in rent.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sitting just metres aware from the surf of King’s Beach, the 111-square-metre flat includes plenty of luxe amenities, such as its two courtyards - with one on each floor - timber herringbone hard floors in the living areas, and a large granite waterfall bench in the well-appointed kitchen.</p> <p dir="ltr">The flat also has access to the amenities offered by the Kings Palazzo complex, including a pool and BBQ area shared with just 11 other apartments.</p> <p dir="ltr">Bradbury, a four-time Olympian, shot to fame after his unlikely win at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games, getting through the semi-final and earning gold in the final after his competitors all crashed in the final seconds.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite trailing behind them all, Bradbury was able to skate into first place, giving rise to the phrase “doing a Bradbury” for winning as an underdog.</p> <p dir="ltr">Earlier this year, Bradbury took to Instagram to reflect on that fateful win 20 years later.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ll always be seen as an overnight success, but it took me many years of sweat, tears and plenty of blood to get there and I’ll always appreciate those who helped me and backed me against the odds,” he <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CaBaljsvBl5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Courage, belief, determination and a little luck, all helped me to be the original #lastmanstanding, and now it’s fantastic to see our next generation of @ausolympicteam legends taking our Winter Olympic Dream into the future!”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-414adfac-7fff-b93d-0e1b-4618063616c7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: @stevenbradburyofficial (Instagram) / Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate</em></p>

Real Estate

Placeholder Content Image

Vale Stephen Wilhite, the creator of the GIF

<p dir="ltr">Stephen Wilhite, the man who invented the wildly popular GIF, has died aged 74.</p> <p dir="ltr">His wife, Kathleen, broke the news that he died of Covid on March 14.</p> <p dir="ltr">Wilhite created the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) - an image format with a short, looping video - while working at CompuServe in 1987.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He invented the GIF all by himself - he actually did that at home and brought it into work after he perfected it,” Kathleen told <em><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/23/22992066/stephen-wilhite-gif-creator-dies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Verge</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He would figure out everything privately in his head and then go to town programming it on the computer.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He was later recognised for his work in 2013 when he was awarded a Webby lifetime achievement.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-a5373d36-7fff-91ae-017d-d7e2872911b0"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“I saw the format I wanted in my head and then I started programming,” he told The New York Times that same year, adding that the first image he created was of an airplane.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/04/01-06-17Avion.gif" alt="" width="400" height="149" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The first GIF created was of an airplane that seemed to move through clouds. Image: <a href="https://thefanatic.net/this-was-the-first-ever-gif/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TheFanatic.net</a></em></p> <p dir="ltr">The inventor and programmer also ended the debate on how to pronounce the name of his creation once and for all, saying it used a soft ‘g’ sound, like Jif peanut butter.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Those using the hard ‘g’, as in ‘got’ or ‘given’ are wrong,” he said. “End of story.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Kathleen said there was more to her husband than his invention of the GIF, and his love of trains led to him having a room dedicated to them in the basement of their home with “enormous train tracks”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Even after he retired in 2001, she said “he never stopped programming”.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to his <a href="https://www.megiefuneralhome.com/obituaries/Stephen-E.-Wilhite?obId=24311617" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obituary page</a>, he had 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren and “remained a very humble, kind and good man” even with all his accomplishments.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>An unknown icon in internet culture</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Though Wilhite's name might be unfamiliar to many, his creation certainly isn’t. From an origin as a method of distributing high quality graphics in colour when internet speeds were at a snail’s pace, the GIF has become an useful tool used to communicate in digital spaces.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-35eb45d2-7fff-ff93-c0f8-c33ac4146eb0"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">In linguist Gretchen McCulloch’s book, <em><a href="https://gretchenmcculloch.com/book/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Because Internet</a></em>, she describes how GIF’s are used most frequently now as depictions of people, animals or cartoon characters doing a certain action to represent your own body.</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/04/safe_image-1.gif" alt="" width="640" height="572" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Modern-day GIFs are often used to represent us laughing, crying, or gesturing in real life, just like this one in response to one of our memes. Image: Facebook</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Whether that’s commenting on a funny image with a GIF of an animal that’s beside itself in invisible laughter or sharing birthday messages with GIFs of cakes covered in flickering candles, most of us can recall a time we relied on these instead of writing or speaking.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also describes their use as emblems, a linguistic term for nameable gestures like the middle finger, jazz hands, eye rolling, winking, and dropping an invisible microphone, as well as a way to show that we’re actively listening to someone.</p> <p dir="ltr">Social media platforms have even caught onto how we use GIFs to communicate.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When you go to insert a GIF on Twitter, the built-in categories of GIF you’re offered are nameable, stylised gestures… such as applause, eww, eye roll, facepalm, fistbump, goodbye, happy dance hearts, high five (and others),” McCulloch writes.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b5dedcec-7fff-2d78-d4df-fe30ad8fae1b"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Certain GIFs are so emblematic that they can be invoked by name, without an image file … when you want to convey your excitement in observing other people’s drama, you can send a GIF of Michael Jackson eating popcorn in a darkened movie theatre, eyes avidly glued to the screen, but you can also simply say #popcorngif or *popcorn.gif*.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/04/giphy.gif" alt="" width="420" height="315" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The MJ GIF in question. Image: Giphy.com</em></p> <p dir="ltr">With that in mind, Wilhite’s 35-year-old creation will stay popular as long as we continue to interact with others online in a legacy that many aren’t afforded. </p> <p dir="ltr">Yet Wilhite was more than his creation, and it’s important that we remember his name just as easily as we remember our go-to GIFs.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-fe4257ee-7fff-52b3-15fe-147ff01552f8"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Technology

Placeholder Content Image

Married couple at the centre of bizarre billion-dollar drug bust

<p>A recently married couple from Melbourne alongside an IT worker have been arrested and charged with running a customs importing business which dealt with over $1 billion worth of 1.6 tonnes of ice and heroin.</p> <p>It is the nation’s largest uncovered methamphetamine haul.</p> <p>Rachel Annette Cachia and Donovan Mark Rodrigues, both 37, have been described as “trusted insiders” in the customs industry and advised clients on the logistics of importing and exporting goods through their independently owned business.</p> <p>However, the couple have suffered a violent fall from grace as they may be met with life imprisonment if convicted over the seizure of 1.6 tonnes of ice and heroin found hidden inside speakers being shipped to Melbourne in April 2019.</p> <p>On social media, the couple showed off their lavish lifestyle, including holidays with their two young children and luxury sports cars.</p> <p>Alongside Ms Cachia and Mr Rodrigues is Bayside IT worker Stephen Mizzi, 38, who has also been charged after the Australian Federal Police raided properties in the Melbourne suburbs of Darley, Sunshine West, Brooklyn, Elwood and Murrumbeena.</p> <p>All three individuals are to face numerous charges of importing illicit drugs.</p> <p>Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan alleged the couple were "middle to high up" in the drug operation.</p> <p>"We feel to a certain extent that they’ve been used," he said.</p> <p>"They [allegedly] used their positions of trust to circumvent the border control. It will be alleged that two of the three suspects charged are trusted industry insiders."</p> <p>Australian Border Forces uncovered the drugs after they asked for sea cargo sipped from Bangkok, Thailand to be inspected at a container examination facility, in April.</p> <p>Officers spotted “anomalies” inside the speakers after an X-ray and took them apart in result.</p> <p>They found numerous packages containing methamphetamine and heroin that had been vacuum-packed and stuffed inside the speakers.</p> <p>Court documents allege that Mr Rodrigues and Ms Cachia had begun dealing with proceeds of crime in December 2016.</p> <p>Then, between June 2017 and July this year, the couple allegedly began arranging the movement of goods without authorisation through ports on numerous occasions between West Melbourne and Brooklyn.</p> <p>By December 2018, it’s alleged that Mr Mizzi joined in on the drug operation with the plan to help ship heroin and ice to Australia.</p> <p>Mr Mizzi has also been additionally charged with dishonestly obtaining identification information from a mobile phone in April this year.</p> <p>The trio faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday, where lawyers said it was the first time in custody for both men and that Mr Mizzi had a "blood pressure issue".</p> <p>Liliana Dubroja, the lawyer representing Ms Cachia, requested a nurse assess her client due to kidney and mental health concerns.</p> <p>Commonwealth prosecutor Jamey Ellis said police required extra time to compile their brief of evidence due to the extensive number of phone taps.</p> <p>"There is a significant amount of listening device and telephone material," he said.</p> <p>The trio was remanded in custody to face court again on May 7. They have not applied for bail.</p>

Money & Banking

Placeholder Content Image

The shocking moment judge is dragged from court to begin prison sentence

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Footage from inside a courtroom has gone viral after it depicted a juvenile judge being dragged away from court by police to immediately begin her prison sentence. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Ohio-based judge, Tracie Hunter had been on a mission since 2014 fighting her conviction and six-month jail sentence for allegedly using her influential position to help a family member, as reported by </span><a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/female-judge-dramatically-dragged-away-from-court-to-begin-prison-sentence-045522601.html?guccounter=1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yahoo News. </span></a></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Chaos in the courtroom: <br /><br />This was the scene in a Hamilton County courtroom Monday morning as former juvenile judge Tracie Hunter was ordered to serve six months in jail and dragged out: <a href="https://t.co/8NEFZWOVcY">https://t.co/8NEFZWOVcY</a> <a href="https://t.co/HBlImlDxnI">pic.twitter.com/HBlImlDxnI</a></p> — WLWT (@WLWT) <a href="https://twitter.com/WLWT/status/1153304329215991808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2019</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tracie’s brother Stephen Hunter allegedly struck a young person while working as a youth corrections officer in 2013 - which led to his boss recommending he be fired.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tracie requested documents on the teenage offender and handed them over to her brother, according to prosecutors. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She was the first African American to be elected to Hamilton County’s Juvenile Court and maintains her prosecution was politically motivated. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She was handcuffed after the judge made his decision and was hastily taken away despite her protest. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The courtroom was filled with supporters who believed the woman was wrongfully prosecuted and sent letters to the personal address of the presiding judge in the hearing - however, his overall decision was not influenced.</span></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

5 of the best writing tips from Stephen King

<p><span>Very few authors are as accomplished and influential as Stephen King. With 60 novels under his belt and more than 350 million copies sold worldwide, King’s works have become cultural icons and touchstones of the horror and suspense genre. His impact also extends beyond the literary world – many of his works have been adapted to classic box office hits, such as <em>IT</em>, <em>Carrie </em>and <em>The Shawshank Redemption</em>.</span></p> <p><span>Over the years, King has shared some of the tricks behind his masterful storytelling. Here are some of them.</span></p> <p><strong><span>1. Read a lot</span></strong></p> <p><span>King has no patience for aspiring writers who claim to have no time to read. “You can’t put it off… you gotta read just about everything,” he said during a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=19&amp;v=hqp7A0B7abc">lecture</a> at Yale University. </span></p> <p><span>A pleasant surprise awaits once you become a seasoned reader, King said. “There’s a magic moment – if you read enough, it will always come to you if you want to be a writer – where you put down some book and say, ‘This really sucks. I can do better than this. And this guy got published’.” </span></p> <p><strong>2. Be concise</strong></p> <p><span>King is a strong advocate of compact, incisive prose. “For me, a good description usually consists of a few well-chosen details that will stand for everything else,” he wrote in his book <em>On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft</em>. “It’s also important to know what to describe, and what can be left alone while you get on with your main job, which is telling a story.”</span></p> <p><strong>3. Avoid adverbs</strong></p> <p><span>You may think moderate use of adverbs elevate your work, but King is not a fan. “To put it another way, they’re like dandelions,” he explained. </span></p> <p><span>“If you have one on your lawn, it looks pretty and unique. If you fail to root it out, however, you find five the next day… fifty the day after that… and then, my brothers and sisters, your lawn is totally, completely, and profligately covered with dandelions. By then you see them for the weeds they really are, but by then it’s – gasp!! – too late.”</span></p> <p><strong>4. Edit, edit and edit</strong></p> <p><span>According to King, a manuscript is not done before it is marked up, polished and even rewritten multiple times. “Only God gets things right the first time,” he wrote in a <a href="https://jerryjenkins.com/stephen-king-writing-advice/">blog post</a>. “Don’t be a slob.”</span></p> <p><strong>5. Let go of the plot</strong></p> <p><span>In what might be his most <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/8btcvo/why_is_stephen_king_not_considered_a_great_writer/dx9gu9j?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web2x">controversial</a> piece of advice, King said that the best stories are unearthed rather than created.</span></p> <p><span>“I distrust plot for two reasons,” he said. “First, because our lives are largely plotless, even when you add in all our reasonable precautions and careful planning; and second, because I believe plotting and the spontaneity of real creation aren’t compatible.”</span></p> <p><span>Instead of trying to build a storyline, he simply acts as a narrator, watching characters react to predicaments. “Stories are relics, part of an undiscovered pre-existing world,” he said. “The writer’s job is to use the tools in his or her toolbox to get as much of each one out of the ground intact as possible.”</span></p>

Books

Placeholder Content Image

"We’re living with divorced dad right now”: Michelle Obama’s verdict on Donald Trump's presidency

<p>Michelle Obama has let her frustration be known over the Donald Trump presidency, as the current US president works hard to eradicate all the hard work that was done by her husband, former US President Barack Obama.</p> <p>Michelle was in London promoting her best-selling autobiography <em>Becoming</em>, when the host, US talk show host Stephen Colbert, asked how she felt about the Trump presidency.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7825976/obama.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/26857e195857431187914f81f1e900e0" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Michelle Obama with Stephen Colbert in London</em></p> <p>“We are a teenager, we’re changing all over the place and we come from a broken family,” Michelle explained.</p> <p>“We’re a little unsettled and having good parents is tough. Sometimes you spend the weekends with divorced dad and that feels like it’s fun, but then you get sick.</p> <p>“That’s what America’s going through. We’re kind of living with divorced dad right now.”</p> <p>After making the joke about living with “divorced dad”, the former First Lady took aim at Trump himself.</p> <p>“For anyone who had any problems with Barack Obama, let’s just think about what we were troubled by — there were never any indictments.”</p> <p>Michelle also told a personal anecdote about the Queen, which she broke royal protocol with by putting her arm around her in 2009.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7825975/obama-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ca99d383097c49b1a77e998a52dc2a81" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth II, Michelle Obama and Prince Philip</em></p> <p>She told the story about how touched she had been by the Queen’s decision to wear a small pin badge that the presidential couple had given her as a gift and couldn’t contain her joy.</p> <p>“I don’t know that I could have done anything differently because it was a natural human reaction.”</p> <p>She’s also very fond of the Queen’s wit.</p> <p>“That was my experience, that has been my experience: that kind of warmth and graciousness and intelligence and wit — I like her.”</p> <p>Michelle’s book tour will take her all around Europe, with stops in Paris and Amsterdam.</p> <p>Have you read Michelle’s autobiography<span> </span><em>Becoming</em>? Let us know in the comments.</p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

The outfit Meghan Markle is being criticised for

<p>On Monday, Prince Harry and Meghan made an appearance at a sombre event which has led to the former actress being slammed for her outfit choice.</p> <p>The engaged couple attended the memorial service of Stephen Lawrence, an 18-year-old British black man who was murdered in a racially-charged attack 25 years ago, reported <em>People.</em></p> <p>For the memorial service held at St Martin-in-the-Fields church, Meghan wore a sleeveless, printed V-neck dress from Hugo boss.</p> <p>At the event, the royal couple spoke with Lawrence’s mother and Harry gave a speech on behalf of his father, Prince Charles.</p> <p>British Prime Minister Theresa May also attended the memorial service and was seated next to Meghan.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">📸 More pictures of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MeghanMarkle?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MeghanMarkle</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PrinceHarry?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PrinceHarry</a> at the memorial service for Stephen Lawrence yesterday <a href="https://t.co/YoBLCfzesT">https://t.co/YoBLCfzesT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarryAndMeghan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HarryAndMeghan</a> <a href="https://t.co/cyKzO2c0gx">pic.twitter.com/cyKzO2c0gx</a></p> — Meghan Markle Fan I meghanmarklefan.com (@mmarklefancom) <a href="https://twitter.com/mmarklefancom/status/988741247853563904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>However, royal speculators have been quick to criticise Meghan’s outfit for the event.</p> <p>One user wrote, “Surprised to see Meghan Markle had her shoulders uncovered at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StephenLawrence?src=hash" target="_blank">#StephenLawrence</a> memorial – seems a bit of a fashion faux pas to me?”</p> <p>Another user, who referred to Meghan by her character’s name in <em>Suits</em>, said that Meghan’s outfit was not fitting for the occasion.</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MeghanMarkle?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"></a><span>"It´s a memorial service for a murder victim. In a church. Is it too much to ask of Rachel to cover up with a jacket, wear stockings, sort out that messy hair for once and stop the holding hands!" </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AGDLM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AGDLM</a><br />The Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the 25th Anniversary Of Stephen Lawrence Memorial Service in London on 04.23.18.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/principeharry?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#principeharry</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/meghanmarkle?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#meghanmarkle</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/princeharry?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#princeharry</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/releza?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#releza</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/princeharryandmeghan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#princeharryandmeghan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/meghanstyle?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#meghanstyle</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fashion?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fashion</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/moda?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#moda</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/style?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#style</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/photooftheday?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#photooftheday</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dress?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#dress</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/skirt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#skirt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/shoes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#shoes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/outfit?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#outfit</a> <a href="https://t.co/N7av3wVM6f">pic.twitter.com/N7av3wVM6f</a></p> — A.Guardián dela Moda (@Angel_Guardian) <a href="https://twitter.com/Angel_Guardian/status/988737979232370690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Other royal fans were more forgiving of Meghan’s outfit choice.</p> <p>“Give her time, she is still learning. We know it should have been a suit or a dress with a collar and sleeves. She is a fashionista of the mod world,” a supporter said. </p> <p>Despite the criticism of her outfit, <em>Vogue</em> noted that the couple’s presence at the Lawrence memorial could mark a “watershed moment for the royal family, which has traditionally discouraged its members from publicly expressing their own political views”. </p>

Beauty & Style

Placeholder Content Image

Stephen Hawkings generous final gift

<p>Stephen Hawking will always be remembered for his scientific achievements, but one aspect of his life that sometimes is forgotten is the scientist’s generosity.</p> <p><a href="http://www.news.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>News.com.au reports</strong></em></span></a> the professor paid for 40 homeless people to enjoy an Easter feast as his final gift from the grave.</p> <p>FoodCycle Cambridge tweeted their thanks saying they were “so grateful” for the, “generous donation so we could give our guests an extra special Easter meal yesterday”.</p> <p>They added: “We had a little cheer in honour of Stephen Hawking before tucking in.”</p> <p>Alex Collis, East of England Regional Manager for the charity, added: “Lucy Hawking contacted me and mentioned that the family would like to make a donation so that while the funeral was taking place people would be sitting down to a hot meal ‘on Stephen’.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">We're so grateful to the Hawking family for their generous donation so we could give our guests an extra special <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Easter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Easter</a> meal yesterday. We had a little cheer in honour of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StephenHawking?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StephenHawking</a> before tucking in. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cambridge?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cambridge</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/community?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#community</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lovefoodhatewaste?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lovefoodhatewaste</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/alltogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#alltogether</a> <a href="https://t.co/ali61X06iE">pic.twitter.com/ali61X06iE</a></p> — FoodCycle Cambridge (@FoodCycleCamb) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoodCycleCamb/status/980359807680032768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>“It was a really kind gesture that I think fitted well with the sympathy Prof Hawking felt for people who were having a tough time of things.”</p> <p>What are your thoughts?</p>

Mind

Placeholder Content Image

Stephen Hawking’s final predication

<p>Professor Stephen Hawking passed away just two weeks after submitting his final research paper, where he hinted that scientists could find another universe and predicted the end of the world.</p> <p>The physicist remarkably completed the research from his deathbed, revealed co-author Professor Thomas Hertog.</p> <p>His research paper shares the foundational maths to find experimental evidence for the existence of a “multiverse”, the theory that we are only one of many universes.</p> <p>If the evidence had been found while Hawking was still alive, he might have finally received the Nobel prize that he missed out on. </p> <p>“This was Stephen: to boldly go where Star Trek fears to tread,” said Hertog, professor of theoretical physics at KU Leuven University in Belgium.</p> <p>“He has often been nominated for the Nobel and should have won it. Now he never can.”</p> <p>The paper tackles an issue that has been on Hawking’s mind since 1983 when he and James Hartle first developed the “no boundary” theory.</p> <p>In the pair’s “no boundary” theory, they described how the Earth was created during the Big Bang. The theory also predicted a multiverse, meaning other universes were created at the same time.</p> <p>The paper also reveals Hawking’s final predication of how the world will end.</p> <p>Hawking believed that our universe will one day fade into blackness as the stars run out of energy.  </p> <p>Hawking’s prediction about the end of the world is controversial among cosmologists including a friend of his, Professor Neil Turok.</p> <p>Turok, who is the director of Canada’s Perimeter Institute, disagreed with his ideas and said, “I remain puzzled as to why he found this picture interesting.”</p> <p>Other scientists are excited to see the potential of Hawking’s latest paper as it is the first theory that can be tested in experiments.</p> <p>The paper, <em>A Smooth Exist From Eternal Inflation</em>, had its latest revisions approved 10 days before Hawking died.</p> <p>According to <em>The Sunday Times</em>, the paper will be published by an unnamed “leading journal” after a review is complete.</p> <p>Hertog also revealed that he met with Hawking in person to get final approval before submitting the paper. </p>

Books

Placeholder Content Image

Why did Stephen Hawking live so long?

<p>Stephen Hawking was just 21 years old when he was told he’d only have two years to live. But it wasn’t until earlier this week that he <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2018/03/stephen-hawking-has-died-aged-76/">died at the age of 76</a></span>.</strong></p> <p>The world-renowned physicist, cosmologist and author of <em>A Brief History of Time</em>, defied incredible odds by living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for over five decades.</p> <p>The average survival rate for people with the motor-neuron disease is two to five years from the time of diagnosis, making Hawking’s long life a mystery of medicine.</p> <p>Prof Tissa Wijeratne, who leads the neuroscience research unit at Melbourne’s Western Hospital, told <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/space/medical-miracle-stephen-hawking-was-certainly-an-outlier/news-story/14d697c10cfa790b8e5d6f5ba3807471">news.com.au</a> </strong></span>neurology and disorders affecting the brain and nerves is a “fascinating specialty”.</p> <p>“On average many folks with ALS live a few years from the diagnosis,” he said.</p> <p>“There are people who live for a long long time too. This is due to the amazing variability of how this disorder affects different human bodies.”</p> <p>He added: “There are variants of ALS that progress very, very slowly: PMA or progressive muscular atrophy is one such example.”</p> <p>“These patients can live for a long long time.”</p> <p>Leo McCluskey, an associate professor of neurology and medical director of the ALS Center at the University of Pennsylvania, <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/stephen-hawking-als/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>told the Scientific American</strong></span> </a>that life expectancy was down to two things.</p> <p>“The first thing is motor neurons running the diaphragm — the breathing muscles,” he said.</p> <p>“So the common way people die is of respiratory failure. And the other thing is the deterioration of swallowing muscles, and that can lead to malnutrition and dehydration.</p> <p>“If you don’t have these two things, you could potentially live for a long time — even though you’re getting worse.</p> <p>“What happened to him is just astounding. He was certainly an outlier.”</p> <p>Dr. Lucie Bruijn, the ALS Association's chief scientist in the US, said, "We wish we knew because that would give us clues to treatment.”</p> <p> "His lifespan is exceptional. I think there are few — I certainly don't know of any others — that have had such a long lifespan,” he added.</p>

Body

Placeholder Content Image

Stephen Hawking has died aged 76

<p>Stephen Hawking, world-renowned physicist, cosmologist and author of <em>A Brief History of Time</em>, has passed away at the age of 76.</p> <p>Professor Hawking’s family confirmed the news via a statement, saying, “We are deeply saddened that our beloved father passed away today.</p> <p>“He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world.</p> <p>“He once said, ‘’It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’</p> <p>“We will miss him forever.”</p> <p>The English-born, Oxford- and Cambridge-educated scientist was diagnosed with a rare, early-onset form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 1963 that slowly paralysed him. However, he was still able to communicate via a single cheek muscle connected to a speech-generating device.</p> <p>Despite being given just two years to live, Hawking defied all expectations, going on to become one of the world’s most respected scientific minds.</p> <p>His life story became the subject of the acclaimed film <em>The Theory of Everything</em>, in which Hawking was portrayed by Eddie Redmayne, who won an Oscar for his role.</p> <p>As <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/mar/14/stephen-hawking-professor-dies-aged-76" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>The Guardian</strong></em></span></a> so <span>succinctly </span>put it, <span>"Those who live in the shadow of death are often those who live most."</span></p> <p>Our thoughts are with the Hawking family at this difficult time.</p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

“The Crown” star Claire Foy’s sad announcement

<p>Claire Foy, best known for playing the Queen on Netflix’s hit drama <em>The Crown</em>, has split from her husband of four years, actor Stephen Campbell-Moore.</p> <p><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7815721/gettyimages-529181678_498x245.jpg" alt="Gettyimages -529181678" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>The former couple first met while working together on the set of<em> Season of the Witch</em> in 2011. They were married in 2014 and welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Ivy Rose, a year later.</p> <p>“We can confirm that we have separated and have been for some time,” they said in a statement released to the media. “We do however continue as great friends with the utmost respect for one another. We ask for our privacy during this time.”</p> <p>The split comes just months after Stephen underwent lifesaving surgery to remove a brain tumour.</p> <p>According to the <em>Daily Mail</em>, Foy was seen not wearing her wedding ring on the red carpet at the BAFTAs last week.</p> <p>Speaking to <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/5647856/claire-foy-splits-husband-stephen-campbell-moore/" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Sun</span></em></strong></a>, a friend of the pair said the separation came as a “real shock” to their friends and loved ones.</p> <p>“They’re lovely people and are determined to keep everything civilised,” the friend said. “Obviously it has been a very sad period for both of them, and for their wider families.</p> <p>“But they are wonderful parents, intelligent and both successful in their own right. They’ve just decided that unfortunately their relationship simply wasn’t working and that this would be for the best.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Netflix.</em></p>

Legal

Placeholder Content Image

6 great Stephen King books turned into terrible movies

<p>Fifty-four novels, 350 million copies sold, nearly 200 short stories written – the prolific world of Stephen King has proved fertile ground for both the TV and movie world.</p> <p>But not everything this writing Midas has touched has turned to cinematic gold.</p> <p>With a new version of 1986 novel <em>It</em> wowing cinema audiences around the world, we thought it was a good time to look back at some of the worst adaptations of the King oeuvre on the big screen.</p> <p><strong>1. <em>Carrie</em></strong></p> <p>Nope, not the classic Sissy Spacek one, the terribly tween one launched in November 2013 and the one which starred Chloe Grace Moretz, fresh off the success of <em>Kick Ass</em>. All wide-eyed, open-mouthed, looking like she's permanently stubbed her toe as she wanders from one miserable encounter to the next, Moretz couldn't pull this together. </p> <p>While the telekinesis sequence at the prom ended up equal parts terrifying and balletic, I couldn't help but wish one of them would have hit me in the head to dull my senses. But alas, it did not, and another King-based misfire thudded into the cinema. – <strong>Darren Bevan</strong></p> <p><strong>2. <em>Cell</em></strong></p> <p>Samuel L Jackson and John Cusack had already successfully combined for 2007 King adaptation 1408.</p> <p>However, this 2016 effort deservedly basically went straight to on-demand, its premise of cell phone users being turned into rabid killers having already been executed to far better effect in 2015's Kingsman: The Secret Service. – <strong>James Croot</strong></p> <p><strong>3. <em>Dreamcatcher</em></strong></p> <p>While this 2003 sci-fi actioner boasts what would now be a dream cast – Morgan Freeman, Damian Lewis, Jason Lee, Donnie Wahlberg – what they collaborated on resulted in a nightmarishly unwatchable mess.</p> <p>Part of the problem lay in the original premise. What starts out as the tale of four friends with telepathic powers turns into an alien invasion movie of thudding ineptitude. Notable only for giving the world the word "s...weasel"  – coined by the characters as a nickname for the invading Byrum. –<strong> JC</strong></p> <p><strong>4. <em>Firestarter</em></strong></p> <p>Certainly not the finest two hours of Drew Barrymore, George C. Scott or Martin Sheen's career, this 1984 adaptation of King's 1980 pyrokinesis tale is mostly notable for taking a potentially interesting premise and turning it into something akin to watching paint dry.</p> <p>While the adults endlessly debate what should be done about little Charlie, Barrymore spends most of the movie screwing up her face in order to convey psychological powers. It's unknown whether James McAvoy used this as preparation for bringing to life Professor Charles Xavier decades later. – <strong>JC</strong></p> <p><strong>5. <em>The Lawnmower Man</em></strong></p> <p>Before he finally found his calling as 007, Pierce Brosnan struggled to make the transition from TV star to movies in clunkers like this 1992 sci-fi horror. He plays Dr Lawrence Angelo, a scientist who uses a human guinea pig for his experiments involving a combination of drugs and virtual reality.</p> <p>As well as boasting simply awful CGI (this was the year before <em>Jurassic Park</em> remember), the movie was also notable for bearing "no meaningful resemblance" to King's original 1987 short story, a fact the author himself brought up when he sued the producers for originally calling it Stephen King's <em>The Lawnmower Man</em>. –<strong> JC</strong></p> <p><strong>6. <em>Sleepwalkers</em></strong></p> <p>This 1992 duffer may have had an uncredited appearance from <em>Star Wars</em> alum Mark Hamill and King himself playing a caretaker in a cemetery (<em>Pet Cemetery</em> anyone?), but for many it'll be the film where cats laughably saved the day.</p> <p>Incorporating some guff about shape-shifting vampires, the film's decidedly silly tone clearly hadn't been passed on to the actors who were trying to take it seriously. Still, who knew vampires could be dispatched by some truly awful cat-got-your-tongue acting? – <strong>DB</strong></p> <p><em>Written by Darren Bevan and James Croot. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

Books

Placeholder Content Image

Then and now: Tabitha Stephens from “Bewitched”

<p>Back in 2015, <a href="/entertainment/tv/2015/11/tabitha-stephens-bewitched-now/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>we got a rare glimpse</strong></span></a> at what Erin Murphy (who famously played Tabitha Stephens in <em>Bewitched</em>) looks like now. Today, she’s given us an update, posing for photos and chatting with <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2017/04/18/bewitched-star-erin-murphy-elizabeth-montgomery-had-dirty-sense-humor-and-so-do.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Fox News</span></strong></a> – and you won’t believe how different she looks from her <em>Bewitched</em> days.</p> <p><img width="500" height="323" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35590/image__500x323.jpg" alt="erin murphy bewitched" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>These days, the 52-year-old is a busy mother of six, but reflects fondly on her time on the iconic show, which ran from 1964 to 1972. “[Elizabeth Montgomery] really was like a mum to me,” she tells Fox. “I definitely think of her more like a family member than a co-worker […] We were friends outside of the set and she had three children around my age, so we grew up together. So it was a close relationship for sure.</p> <p>“I was very lucky because I stayed in touch with people after the show was over, so I had the pleasure of hanging out with Dick Sargent as an adult and having phone conversations with Dick York. As a kid, I was very close with both of them. I grew to admire them as adults because they were such great men.”</p> <p>Murphy is set to return to screens with a web comedy series titled Life Interrupted, in which she will star alongside a number of other child stars including Alison Arngrim (<em>Little House on the Prairie</em>), Dawn Wells (<em>Gilligan’s Island</em>) and Michael Learned (<em>The Waltons</em>).</p>

TV

Placeholder Content Image

Stephen King’s “It" trailer scares fans out of their minds

<p>The first trailer has been released for a move adaption of Stephen King’s <em>It</em>. Unlike the 1990 TV miniseries, the movie adaption which comes in two planned instalments, is sure to give fans a fright. The book’s monster Pennywise the Clown who was played by Tim Curry in the miniseries, is now played by Bill Skarsgard.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FnCdOQsX5kc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>The moment that has fans excited in the trailer is the glimpse into the projector scene with The Losers Club who are the children that face off against the clown. Georgie’s older brother Bill is a member of the group, and as the group begins to plane their schemes, the projector begins to malfunctions and then shows images of Bill’s family. A picture of his mother comes across the screen with her hair hiding her face which then slowly morphs into Pennywise.</p> <p>Fans took to Twitter to voice their delight with the scariness of the trailer.</p> <p>One user wrote, “Seriously, that was an amazing trailer. It is so creepy. Esp. the projector scene and the final shot. Disturbing.”</p> <p>Another wrote, “<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ITMovie?src=hash">#ITMovie</a> </strong></span>trailer looks great! Pleasantly surprised at how creepy it was, especially the part with the picture projector!</p> <p>Although a trailer cannot guarantee a good film, <em>It</em> was praised by Stephen King himself.</p> <p class="tweet-text">On Twitter Stephen King wrote, “Andy Muschietti's remake of IT (actually it's Part 1--The Losers' Club) succeeds beyond my expectations. Relax. Wait. And enjoy.”</p>

Movies

Placeholder Content Image

Hawk drops snake on family picnic in Melbourne

<p>A video of a hawk dropping a snake on a barbecue picnic lunch in Melbourne has gone viral, but some experts have questioned the legitimacy of the footage.</p> <p>The video, which you can view above, was originally posted on Monday by a YouTube user called Douglas Wong. The footage shows a family lunching by the Yarra River. One family member spots a hawk that flies over a river and appears to pick up a snake. It holds the creature in its claws before heading back over and dropping it on the family.</p> <p>In the description box that was posted with the video, Mr Wong wrote, “So funny. Bird dropped snake on my uncle last weekend. Scary.”</p> <p>The video has since become an internet sensation, being viewed over 400,000 times, but some experts have gone on to question the legitimacy of the footage.</p> <p>Emma Goldstone, from Melbourne creative agency Jumbla, told <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/" target="_blank"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Fairfax</strong></span></em></a>, “The professional consensus seems to be that, no, it's not real. The snake is massive in the last shot, but when the bird supposedly picks it up, you can't even see it. The camera work is too good. Why would a snake be hanging out in short grass in winter?”</p> <p>Sean Dooley, the editor of Australian Birdlife magazine, added, “They rarely take snakes and I would be surprised that a young bird would have that skill. Even more damning is that the silver gull in the foreground does not move an inch as the eagle approaches to catch the snake or when it drops it. There is no way a gull wouldn't react to a huge predator swooping in like that.”</p> <p>After watching the video, what’s your take? Do you think it's legitimate footage, or is it a cleverly edited fake? Let us know what you think in the comment section. </p> <p><em>Video credit: YouTube / Douglas Wong</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/03/man-casually-removes-venomous-snake-from-car/"><strong>Man casually removes venomous snake from car</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/travel/international-travel/2016/06/snake-hiding-under-sand/"><strong>Can you tell what animal is hiding in this photo?</strong></a></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><a href="/news/news/2016/07/man-checks-shoes-and-makes-terrifying-discovery/"><strong>Man checks shoes and makes terrifying discovery</strong></a></em></span></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

5 books to help you write your own bestseller

<p>They say readers make the best writers, so if you’re a bookworm with a story to tell, why not give it a shot? These books have all the information you need to pour your imagination onto the page, whether it’s a novel, non-fiction book or even a blog!</p> <p><strong><a href="https://t.dgm-au.com/c/93981/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fon-writing-stephen-king%2Fprod9781444723250.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft</em></span></a> by Stephen King</strong></p> <p><em>On Writing</em> is legendary author Stephen King’s best-selling memoir-come-masterclass on all things writing. He wrote the book after a horrific car accident almost took his life, leaving him unsure of whether or not he’d ever write again. Well, he did, and this is the result. Critics have praised <em>On Writing</em> for its wise, witty and insightful advice into the craft.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://t.dgm-au.com/c/93981/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fwriting-with-quiet-hands-paula-munier%2Fprod9781599639239.html" target="_blank"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Writing with Quiet Hands: How to Shape Your Writing to Resonate with Readers</span></em></a> by Paula Munier</strong></p> <p>With years of experience as a writing teacher, Paula Munier certainly knows her stuff. In <em>Writing with Quiet Hands</em>, she’ll help you navigate the entire process of book publishing from idea conception to getting your book in stores, as well as explaining how you can fine-tune your prose to get the best reception from your desired audience.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://t.dgm-au.com/c/93981/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fuse-your-words-catherine-deveny%2Fprod9781863958349.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Use Your Words: A Myth-Busting, No-Fear Approach to Writing</em></span></a> by Catherine Deveny</strong></p> <p>Writer and comedian Catherine Deveny has made a name for herself thanks to her fun-filled and smart masterclasses, and now she’s distilled all her wisdom into one easy-to-digest handbook. In it, you’ll learn what creativity and vending machines have in common and how you can bounce back from writer’s block.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://t.dgm-au.com/c/93981/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fwriting-down-the-bones-natalie-goldberg%2Fprod9781611803082.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within</em></span></a> by Natalie Goldberg</strong></p> <p>This best-selling book has been around for more than three decades and continues to inspire would-be authors with its blend of practical writing advice and Zen meditation practice – yep, you read that right. With her trademark sense of humour, Goldberg will help you on all aspects of the writing process, from finding the right space to finding the right words.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://t.dgm-au.com/c/93981/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fon-writing-well-william-zinsser%2Fprod9780060891541.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction</em></span></a> by William Zinsser</strong></p> <p>If thrillers and romance novels aren’t your thing, then maybe nonfiction is the way to go. There’s no better guide to the world of writing about real life than Zinsser’s <em>On Writing Well</em>, which has just celebrated its 30th anniversary and more than one million copies sold. Whether you want to write about sports, history, business or perhaps a biography, this book is the ideal resource for you.</p> <p>Have you ever written a book? We’d love to hear from you! Tell us about it in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/books/2016/08/7-lesser-known-books-by-famous-authors/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>7 lesser-known brilliant books by famous authors</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/books/2016/04/touching-lines-from-books/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>20 most touching lines in literature</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/books/2016/05/6-inspiring-female-writers/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>6 inspiring female writers</strong></em></span></a></p>

Books